• Email:
ajdemery-w@sdsu.edu
• Twitter Handle:
@acdemery
• Website/Blog/Etc:
kevinburnslab.com
• My position with AOS:
Student Affairs Committee, Chair
Diversity and Inclusion Committee member
• My current full-time title and institution:
Master’s Candidate, San Diego State University
• My current career stage:
Graduate Student
• My lineage of mentors/labs:
Undergraduate – A. Kristopher Lappin, C.S.U. Pomona
Master’s Degree – Kevin J. Burns, San Diego State University
Independent side project – Scott Edwards, Harvard University
PhD – Irby J. Lovette, Cornell University
• #badlyexplainyourjob:
I like beaks, speciation, and ecology. I spend most hours measuring dead things, analyzing dead things, and going, “WOAH, that’s cool.”
• My favorite bird and why:
White-tailed Kite. Picture a beautiful piece of gray and white origami with life breathed into it. And then tack on some killer red eyes.
• I am involved with AOS because:
Being a part of the AOS makes me feel like the work I do actually benefits people and a mission larger than myself.
• The best part about being a member of AOS is:
I am part of an awesome community that improves every year in many aspects of societal progression. What’s not to love about bird people?
• Birds are important to me because:
I think birds are the best tool to inspire people about nature, especially if someone can’t experience nature due to disadvantages in life.
• Advice I have to offer a student (master’s level or younger) in ornithology:
Always ask questions! Never listen to people who say you’re doing too much, especially if you’re having fun.
• One ornithology question or problem I would like to solve or see solved:
All the ticking parts that influence how bill morphology and pigmentation work. Plus what happens when we view it across diverse taxa.
• Fun random fact about myself:
I am ambidextrous in my feet. And I am a dungeon master. 😀
• Something else birdy I’d like to share:
Contact me if you want to participate in the Student Affairs Committee!
